England v Latvia LIVE: Three Lions pull away from stubborn minnows late on in World Cup qualifier

England vs Latvia LIVE

• England beat Latvia 3-0 in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with goals from James, Kane and Eze
• It means the Three Lions win the opening two matched of Thomas Tuchel's reign
• 75' GOAL! Eze scores his first England goal after cutting in from the left (ENG 3-0 LAT)
• 68' GOAL! Kane turns in Rice's ball across the box for his 71st England goal (ENG 2-0 LAT)
• 38' GOAL! James curls in exquisite free-kick to break down stubborn visitors (ENG 1-0 LAT)

REPORT: Thomas Tuchel shown the frustration of international football despite another England win

Thomas Tuchel’s otherwise forgettable second win at least brought some memorable firsts. Both Reece James and Eberechi Eze opened their international goalscoring accounts, to secure a 3-0 win over Latvia.

In between, Harry Kane of course got his 71st goal, but this didn’t quite become the stat-padding some might have expected.

Latvia didn’t let it. They made England really work for any opening, which in turn made James’ goal all the more valuable. On a night of frustrating imprecision, he offered a goal of soaringly exquisite accuracy.

It’s dubious as to whether Tuchel got much else out of the night, Eze’s first goal notwithstanding. The new manager might instead be realising just how thankless a lot of international football can be.

Read the full report from Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney at Wembley:

Thomas Tuchel shown frustration of international football despite England win

England's goalscorers reflect on Latvia win

Two of England’s goalscorers Eberechi Eze and Reece James have spoken to ITV about the 3-0 win:

Eberechi Eze said: "It was a strong performance from us. It was important to win.

"I always want to impact the game whenever I play. Today it has come off, it is good to contribute."

Reece James said: "It has been a long time, I have had a frustrating two years. I'm so happy to be called up by my country again. I saw the wall and felt I could bend it round. I was a bit surprised it hit the net.

"Thomas Tuchel's ideas are clear. We have one objective and that starts this week right up until the World Cup."

WATCH: England beat Latvia 3-0

Three nice goals for England in the end at Wembley. Here they are:

It's simply MAGNIFICENT! 💥

A freekick of pure quality from Reece James ✨#ITVFootball | #ThreeLions | #CFCpic.twitter.com/xgz9xca16u

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 24, 2025

England lead by two goals to nil! ⚽️⚽️

Declan Rice puts it on a plate for Harry Kane 🍽️#ITVFootball | #ThreeLionspic.twitter.com/tGHt3ziUkw

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 24, 2025

That's TERRIFIC from Eberechi Eze!

Lovely feet from the Crystal Palace man 🔥#ITVFootball | #ThreeLions | #CPFCpic.twitter.com/s5EqCebKB1

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 24, 2025

FULL-TIME! England 3-0 Latvia

All over at Wembley. Frustration at points for England but they pulled away late on as Harry Kane 71st goal for his country and Eberechi Eze’s first made it a more comfortable win after Reece James’s exquisite first-half free-kick.

More to come from Thomas Tuchel’s England still but some good stuff to work with across these two games

England 3-0 Latvia, 89 mins

England pushing for a late fourth. Konsa has a chance when the ball flashes across goal towards him before Foden nods a ball back across to a waiting Eze but Latvia scramble it behind for a corner.

England 3-0 Latvia, 84 mins

Rogers strolls past his defender and then unleashes a left-footed strike at goal that is well tipped over by Kviedris. He’s looked lively tonight has Rogers

It’s then a bit of a scramble in the box from the corner as Konsa pokes towards goal, it rebounds around, Kane can’t get a clean strike and the ball squirts out of danger.

England 3-0 Latvia, 82 mins

A couple of goals from England to finally break down the stubborn Latvia defence

England 3-0 Latvia, 80 mins

Slew of subs for England as Rashford, Rice and Lewis-Skelly head off the pitch with Curtis Jones, Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker on.

CHANCE! England 3-0 Latvia, 77 mins

It probably should be 4-0 almost immediately. England flood forward again, Rogers moves towards the edge of the box and tries to curl the ball into the far corner of the goal, beyond the keeper, but it’s curled just wide.

Great chance for the Villa playmaker

GOAL! England 3-0 Latvia (Eberechi Eze, 75 mins)

Are England pulling away now? Eberechi Eze has his first England goal.

He has space down the left and runs at defenders. Jinks one way, then the other, has a shot across goal and it deflects in off the bum of Latvia skipper Cernomordijs.

That was the direct play Tuchel has been talking about.

England 2-0 Latvia, 71 mins

Phil Foden came on for England shortly before that second goal. He wasn’t involved but a second game in a row where another goal has come shortly after a substitution.

England try to break from a Latvia corner. Rashford hares down the left but he’s forced wide and has to play the ball to the overlapping Kane rather than across to Foden and it breaks down.

GOAL! England 2-0 Latvia (Harry Kane, 68 mins)

And there’s finally the second goal for England. Nice build-up as Rogers slips a pass in for Rice who has made a great run into the box, he fizzes it across goal and Harry Kane is at the back post to turn it in.

That’s the 71st goal of Kane’s England career. He’s miles clear as their all-time top scorer.

CLOSE! England 1-0 Latvia, 64 mins

Not far away. Kane picks the ball up on the edge of the area, tries to direct the ball into the bottom corner but it bounces narrowly wide.

Close but frustration for the England skipper

England 1-0 Latvia, 61 mins

Changes for England. Jarrod Bowen trudges off and Eberechi Eze is on in his place. The Three Lions need a spark.

A couple of Latvia subs as well, with Dario Sits and Eduards Daskevics coming on

England 1-0 Latvia, 58 mins

Bellingham has to be careful here. He’s on a yellow card and gets himself involved in a bit of nonsense after a heavy challenge.

I wonder if Tuchel will sub him off for his own good? It’s been a slightly low-key start to this second half. England need to up the tempo.

England 1-0 Latvia, 53 mins

Bellingham teases his way into a crossing position but a dark red wall of bodies stop him getting a meaningful cross in.

On the other side, Rashford’s cross is blocked for a corner.

First sub of the day as Saveljevs comes off with Vitalijs Jagodinskis on for Latvia

England 1-0 Latvia, 48 mins

A slide tackle from Rice on Ikaunieks, who isn’t happy about it but he got the ball first. England pressing hard again early in this second half.

KICK-OFF! England 1-0 Latvia

Back underway at Wembley. Can England move the ball a bit quicker in this second half?

Reece James gives England the lead

It truly was a stunning free-kick by the Chelsea defender

WATCH: First-half highlights

An interesting first 45 minutes with that exquisite Reece James free-kick the highlight

It's simply MAGNIFICENT! 💥

A freekick of pure quality from Reece James ✨#ITVFootball | #ThreeLions | #CFCpic.twitter.com/xgz9xca16u

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 24, 2025

Brilliant stop! ⛔️

Zviedris does well to scoop the ball over the bar#ITVFootball | #ThreeLionspic.twitter.com/CwJjGxq3bz

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 24, 2025

Nearly disastrous for England... 🫣

A mixup between Guehi and Pickford leaves Gutkovskis with an open goal#ITVFootball | #ThreeLionspic.twitter.com/74OjaDam4T

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 24, 2025

HALF-TIME! England 1-0 Latvia

On the stroke of half-time, Bowen gets to the byline, cuts back for Rogers and he gets his shot on target but it's pushed away by Zviedris at his near post.

And that’s half-time. England frustrated by a stubborn Latvia at points but a gorgeous Reece James free-kick has them ahead.

Latvia have had one or two moments, so England will need to be on their guard, but they should be able to pull away from here.

England 1-0 Latvia, 45+1 mins

Konsa and Gutkovskis challenge for the ball, the Latvia striker gives him a nudge in the back and the Aston Villa defender needs some treatment.

England 1-0 Latvia, 45 mins

Latvia get a shot away as Jaunzems’s eyes light up when he gets a sight of goal but his effort is straight at Pickford.

Two minutes of added time to end this first half

England 1-0 Latvia, 43 mins

Rashford miscues a shot across goal, it falls to Rogers about 12 yards out but he’s not expecting it and can’t get a clean strike away.

Bellingham then gets the first yellow card of the game as he lunges in for a tackle and steps on Zelenkovs

England 1-0 Latvia, 40 mins

A muted celebration from James. He should have been running round the stadium with a finish like that. Top class.

He’s proved a bit of a point there.

GOAL! England 1-0 Latvia (Reece James, 38 mins)

Lewis-Skelly cleverly uses his body to get in front of his man and win a free-kick about 25 yards out.

A proper committee meeting with five players round the ball at one point. Eventually it’s Reece James to take

OH MY WORD! It’s brilliant! He curls it magnificently into the top right corner. It goes round the outside of the wall, starts outside the post and flies into the postage stamp of the top corner. Simply sublime!

England 0-0 Latvia, 33 mins

Another mistake from Saveljevs and Rashford nicks it away from him before haring to the byline again. The Aston Villa winger, on loan from Man Utd, has been England most likely threat so far.

It feels like they’re getting closer to a goal

England 0-0 Latvia, 31 mins

Rashford twisting and turning, sends Saveljevs sprawling and wins a corner as his cross is well blocked out of play. The corner from Rice is far too close to Zviedris and floats harmlessly into his hands.

NO PENALTY! England 0-0 Latvia, 28 mins

Messy in the area as Zviedris flaps at a cross, fumbles it and then dives desperately forward towards the ball. He doesn’t get it and seems to contact Bowen on the way down, who hits the deck.

VAR checking to see if it’s a penalty. Scrappy but I think it would be soft... More of a coming together than a clear foul for me.

And after an unnecessarily long check, it’s ruled no penalty. Not enough to overturn the on-field decision and on we play.

CHANCE! England 0-0 Latvia, 24 mins

England turning the screw now. Another chance as James gets to the byline and stands up a cross.

Kane has three defenders around him but eases one away from him to find space, has a clean look at the header and powers it over the bar. He would have fancied getting that on target - good work to create space but the finish not his best

SAVE! England 0-0 Latvia, 22 mins

England could be 1-0 up here. They win a corner, it’s nicely whipped in and Bellingham has a great chance with a header but it’s blocked as it goes goalwards. It falls to Konsa who hammers it at goal and Zviedris somehow pushes it over the bar.

Brilliant stop by the Latvia keeper. More or less straight at him but quick reactions to tip it over, because the shot had power from Konsa.

Another Bellingham free header from the subsequent corner but this one is over the bar.

CHANCE! England 0-0 Latvia, 19 mins

Rashford finding a bit of space down the left. He dinks in a cross, it falls to Rogers 10 yards out but his shot is blocked by a desperate defender before Bowen thrashes at the rebound but it flies ride

But then a genuine chance for Latvia at the other end! An awful mix-up between Guehi and Pickford as the defender accidentally nicks it past the Everton keeper as he comes haring out, Latvia striker Gutkovskis gets on the end of it but his shot from a narrow-ish angle is into the side netting.

Surely he won’t get a better look than that? The goal was gaping, even if the angle wasn’t perfect.

England 0-0 Latvia, 16 mins

Rogers makes another clever run but Bowne’s reverse pass is just blocked.

The West Ham star then ghosts in at the back post to get on the end of a deep Rashford cross but it’s just too far for him to nod back across goal.

England 0-0 Latvia, 13 mins

Savalnieks runs at James and gets past him before winning a corner. Bowen was helping the Chelsea right-back but seemed to be appealing for a foul.

Rogers heads away the corner but the ref blows for a foul on Konsa anyway.

England 0-0 Latvia, 11 mins

Rogers jinks through the defence but gets crowded out on the edge of the box, trying to slip in Kane. that sort of go-forward is what Tuchel would have wanted from the Aston Villa man.

England have played basically the whole match in Latvia’s half so far but they’re still looking for the first meaningful breach of the low block and 11 men behind the ball.

Quicker ball movement and Bellingham shots from distance but it’s well blocked

England 0-0 Latvia, 8 mins

James has absolutely laid out Ciganiks as they both competed for a headed ball. Robust challenge - no quarter given.

James will want to prove himself at right-back after injury has limited his England chances in the last couple of years.

Bellingham then gets a bit of space down the left but Jaunzems comes in with a good slide tackle

England 0-0 Latvia, 5 mins

Rashford fizzes a reverse pass through the defence but it’s just a shade too far for Bellingham who had made a lovely run, and goes out for a goal-kick.

Bellingham looks like he’s playing a touch deeper than Rogers but not properly alongside Rice to form a midfield duo. Closer to the 4-1-4-1 Tuchel talked about than a true 4-2-3-1

England 0-0 Latvia, 2 mins

Bowen harries the Latvia defence with the press and nicks the ball away but it just rolls into touch.

England’s press is intense early on before keeping possession and feeling their opponents out in the early going.

KICK-OFF! England 0-0 Latvia

And we’re underway at Wembley. How many will England win by tonight in their first-ever game against Latvia?

Morgan Rogers gets first start

Just before kick-off this evening, why not check out Morgan Rogers’ interview with Gabriel Clarke.

He’s making his first England start tonight:

Setbacks. Courage. Hard work.

The making and meteoric rise of Morgan Rogers 💫#ITVFootball | #ThreeLions | #AVFC | 🎙️ @gabrielclarke05pic.twitter.com/6xEqQP2Rpk

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 24, 2025

England warming up for Latvia clash

Fewer than 10 minutes until kick-off now with warm-ups complete at Wembley

Your questions on Tuchel’s England answered – from the best midfield to Rashford ‘criticism’

Our Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney, who is at Wembley tonight, did and Ask Me Anything on the England team earlier today.

Check out all his answers:

Your questions on Thomas Tuchel’s England answered by Miguel Delaney

Latvia team news

Here’s how Latvia will line up this evening to face England

Uz Vemblija stadiona zāliena kāpsim šādā sastāvā 🇱🇻

📺 Tiešraide LTV7 ar pirmsspēles studiju 2⃣0⃣:3⃣0⃣#LatvijasIzlase#11vilki#FIFAWorldCup#ENGLVA | @TonybetLatvijapic.twitter.com/eH7lMuKOTW

— Futbola federācija (@kajbumba) March 24, 2025

England team news - four changes made by Tuchel

It’s four changes from the England side that beat Albania 2-0 on Friday night.

Reece James and Marc Guehi come into the defence for Kyle Walker and Dan Burn, while Morgan Rogers and Jarrod Bowen are added to the attacking fray.

They start instead of Curtis Jones and the beleaguered Phil Foden. With Jones being replaced by the more attacking Morgan Rogers, it will be interesting to see if Jude Bellingham drops deeper alongside Declan Rice or whether Tuchel will even trial the fabled 4-1-4-1 he’s discussed, with Rice exposed as the lone DM.

England XI: Pickford; James, Konsa, Guehi, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Bellingham; Bowen, Rogers, Rashford; Kane

England team news

Here’s the England team to take on Latvia tonight with Morgan Rogers and Reece James among the players coming in

Tonight's #ThreeLions vs Latvia! 🦁 pic.twitter.com/WCsKCADpCh

— England (@England) March 24, 2025

England v Latvia talking points - First meeting with Latvia

This is England's first ever meeting with Latvia, who are ranked 140th in the world.

They also got their Group K campaign off to a winning start as they edged past minnows Andorra 1-0 but they are not expected to be in contention to qualify for next summer's World Cup.

Defender Daniels Balodis is perhaps the most recognisable name in their squad, at least north of the border, as he plays for Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone.

England are unbeaten in their last 32 World Cup qualifiers, which is the longest run of any European nation and it would be a big surprise if that run ended against the Baltic nation.

England v Latvia talking points - Tighten grip on qualification

It may only be the second of eight qualifying games but victory would put England in a dominant position in Group K.

Serbia are England's main threat but they are in Nations League action during this international window so Tuchel's side can get a big head start.

Two wins from two would put England in a strong position going into June's qualifier against Andorra before September's crunch game in Belgrade.

England v Latvia talking points - Rotation policy

Tuchel is ready to rotate against Latvia as the new England boss looks to juggle tired legs and make the most of his limited opportunities with the players.

The German could make a host of changes across the pitch as he explores combinations and options.

The attacking areas are likely to be rotated, with Foden and Marcus Rashford's place in danger after under-whelming performances against Albania, with Jarrod Bowen and Morgan Rogers among those waiting for their chance.

England v Latvia talking points - How to solve a problem like Phil?

Phil Foden came under the spotlight for his performance against Albania as he was ineffective out on the right.

Pundit Roy Keane suggested Foden will be lucky to keep the shirt as the 24-year-old continually struggles to find the level he reaches with club Manchester City at international level.

Tuchel wants Foden to be more direct, saying: "We will encourage him to do what he does best - to go at defenders, to go into dribbles.

"We played him from the from the right wing. I think both of our wingers who started were not as impactful as they normally can be, as they are normally in club football."

England v Latvia talking points - Tuchel wants more

England won their first match under Thomas Tuchel when they beat Albania in comfortable but unspectacular style on Friday and Tuchel was left wanting more.

He promised a high-octane Premier League style but there were familiar difficulties in breaking down a team with 11 men behind the ball.

The German will expect his side to move the ball quicker and be more aggressive as they begin to get used to his demands.

He said: “We will understand better now, I will understand the players better, so where do they feel confident? Where do we struggle? Why is it for us hard to find more runs and to find more aggressive movements into the very last third?”

Everything you need to know about England v Latvia

Thomas Tuchel will look to build on his first match in charge as England face Latvia in their second World Cup 2026 qualifier.

The Three Lions cruised to a 2-0 win over Albania on Friday in Tuchel’s first outing as England boss, with goals from Myles Lewis-Skelly and Harry Kane propelling the German to a victorious start.

They now face Latvia in what is a top of the table clash in Group K, after the visitors beat Andorra 1-0 in the qualifying opener.

England go into the contest as heavy favourites and will be eager to make it a straightforward assignment under the Wembley lights.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Is England v Latvia on TV? Kick-off time, TV channel and how to watch